Grant Spotlight: Two-Gen Tech Project Empowers Women with Digital and Financial Literacy Skills
submitted by Lindsey Fox
Grant Award - $12,500
Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) Even Start Family Literacy Program
The Even Start Family Literacy project helps students earn a high school credential and, in doing so, improves their employability, earning power, and long-term financial security. While their parents attend courses, pre-school aged children attend high-quality programming focused on preparation for kindergarten.
The project has placed personal computers in the homes of 12 students and is allowing them to develop the basic computer skills necessary to access information for their education, opportunities for employment, and resources for teaching their children to be academically successful and safe online.
Surprisingly, most of the adults enrolled in the Even Start program begin their journey without knowing how to turn on a computer, operate a mouse, or use a keyboard.
Susan Hunsader, Lead Instructor for the Even Start project, is at the forefront of the grant work. Susan says, "This program is bigger than computer skills. Not only are these women strengthening their digital and financial literacy, they are building their own self-confidence." By overcoming fears and developing new skills, the 12 women of Even Start are becoming empowered and increasing the probability of future success for their families.
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